Proposed School Budget to Be Unveiled

Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy’s recommended FY 2014 budget would keep class sizes steady, would add new school buses and would provide for merit pay increases for school employees, despite a $23.5 million budget shortfall.

Murphy will formally unveil his budget tonight (Thursday) at a budget work session with the school board. The School Board will adopt the final FY 2014 budget in May.

Murphy’s budget takes advantage of a budget surplus from last year and “efficiencies” in custodial staffing, the teen parenting program and gifted teachers, among other programs, to help close the budget gap.